I don't think anyone would deny that sharing yummy food and festive drinks with friends and family is part of the fun of the holidays. And no one can deny that MANY of us gain a few pounds over the holidays. The GOOD news is that the average holiday weight-gain (which most people seem to believe to be around 5 lbs) is exaggerated. Most people actually gain between 1 to 2 pounds over the holiday season. The BAD news is that that weight is usually never lost again. Ever. For the rest of our lives! Think about that. A pound or two might not feel like much right now, but year after year, that weight adds up! Studies now suggest that "holiday weight gain" may be an important contributor to the rising obesity epidemic.
So take this new knowledge as motivation to get working to drop those holiday pounds now! The first thing I would suggest doing is check your cupboards and fridge for any lingering holiday "goodies". If the treats that tempt you are not in your house, you won't be able to eat them. We're into the New Year now, clean out the junk and stock your kitchen with real, whole, natural foods like fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts and seeds, fish and meat, beans and lentils. If you need some ideas for healthy meals and recipes, check out some of my favourite healthy-eating websites (full of free recipes!):
That should be enough to get you started!
If you need more help getting back on track and you live on the South Shore, why not sign-up for one of my upcoming Healthy Eating for Life group sessions? Details are on the "Services" page.
I'll continue sharing ideas on this blog to help you eat better, lose weight and feel great! Send your questions and thoughts my way via the "Contacts" page.
Thanks for coming by. Now go clear out that kitchen!
PS. Everything I report is meticulously researched. If you’re like me and get a kick out of reading scientific studies, I’ll try to provide links to some of the articles I use in my research. For more on the topics covered in this post, take a look at these resources:
Yanovski JA1, Yanovski SZ, Sovik KN, Nguyen TT, O'Neil PM, Sebring NG. 2000. A prospective study of holiday weight gain. New England Journal of Medicine. 342(12):861-7.
Roberts SB1, Mayer J. 2000. Holiday weight gain: fact or fiction? Nutrition Review. 58(12):378-9.